Wethersfield Schedules Children's Activities For Vacation Week

December 27, 2012|By CHRISTOPHER HOFFMAN, Special to The Courant, The Hartford Courant

WETHERSFIELD — — The parks and recreation department is offering parents and children an alternative to playing video games and watching TV this week.

The department has packed the remainder of Christmas vacation with fun and games to keep children occupied and amused.

The events give children a chance to get out of the house, have fun and burn off extra holiday calories, said Parks and Recreation Director Kathy Bagley.

"We provide activities for the students to keep busy and have a good time," Bagley said. "We want kids to have fun, and we do look at physical activities as a strong component. I think the vacation activities benefit both children and parents."

Among the most popular events is Thursday's Keane Kids Fun Day at the William J. Pitkin Community Center at 30 Greenfield St., Bagley said. The day, which costs $1 per child, is segmented for different age groups:

•Toddlers aged 2 to 4 and their parents are welcome from 9 to 10 a.m. for parachute play and other games.

•Children aged 5 to 7 can come from 10:30 a.m. to noon for kickball, freeze tag and other games.

•The 8-to12-year-olds have the gym from 1 to 3 p.m. to play dodge ball, basketball and use the center's computers.

Parents must sign a permission slip for their child to participate.

Bagley said as many as 150 children have participated in the event in the past.

"Sometimes parents may stay while their kids are in the gym or they may go and run errands," she said. "So it's also a little social hour."

For children looking for a less competitive environment, the department will run its Super Athletes Sports Camp Thursday and Friday morning at the Highcrest School gym. Kindergarteners though sixth-graders will participate in noncompetitive activities that increase flexibility, strength and aerobic endurance.

The event, which is 9 a.m. to noon each day, costs $45 per child for residents and $55 per child for non-residents. Parents are reminded to send their child with a snack and a drink.

On Thursday, the department will offer a trip to Club Kids for children aged 6 to 11. A bus will depart from the Pitkin Center at 9:30 a.m. returning at 12:30 p.m. The cost is $10 per child, cash only, and includes pizza, juice and eight arcade game tokens.

For seventh- and eighth-graders, laser tag, bowling and pizza are on the agenda Friday. Parents may drop off their children at 10 a.m. at Fun Squared at 56 Costello Drive in Newington. The cost is $15 in cash per child and includes pizza, soda, bowling and two sessions of laser tag. Arcade games are also available. Parents should pick up their children at 1 p.m.

In addition, the fitness room at the community center, the Backman Pool at Wethersfield High School and the Eleanor Buck Nature Center are all open this week.

Parents wishing to have their children participate in any of these activities are asked to call the parks and recreation department at 860-721-2890.